Lord Lister / [Sir Rickman John Godlee].

  • Rickman Godlee
Date:
1924
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Lord Lister / [Sir Rickman John Godlee]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a knowledge of French and Latin, and shows in his letters that he speaks from personal experience of the advantages of these studies, which he does not wish to be pushed aside by such an ‘ entertaining * subject as drawing. When he was fifty-nine years old, John Lister wrote thus to his little son of ten, who, at the tender age of seven, had been able to write a very respectable letter in French with ‘ only two words corrected by the usher,’ and was already an excellent calligraphist. 21st of 3rd month 1796. Dear Joseph, As I often think of thee with desires that thou may grow up a sober industrious Lad, so am also desirous that thou shouldst see a little of what is publishing for th’instruction and benefit of the youth of the present Generation and adapted to the capacities and employments of many of them, have therefore sent thee 9 Books for the purpose, and I greatly desire that thy principal care may be to discharge thy duty to thy teachers, and to keep a conscience void of Offence, to thy Creator from whose bounty we are supplied with every favor that we enjoy. But on enquiring after thee from J. Vully the Usher, I hear that he has to complain of thy being so very long in writing about 10 Lines in a Copy, and learning a little spelling, that 2| hours are often taken up therewith, which am satisfied thou mightst easily accomplish in one hour, so that thou hast but little time for the Latin, this has made me sorry, because an hour and a half wasted is a loss thou may have great reason to regret, as well as such a habit continued in of idling thy time must prove of bad consequence and deprive of the satisfaction of reflect¬ ing that thou hast spent thy time to the best of thy Capacity, which is both thy duty and interest. Thy Usher therefore with me concludes that the writing and spelling shall be the last, that the prime of the morning may be applied to Latin and French, and I do desire thee to be in earnest while in the School to apply with industry, that so by overcoming the difficulties thou may begin to taste the sweets of Learning. The Usher desiring to borrow for thy perusal L’Henriade occasions me with sorrow to acquaint thee, that thy Cousin J. R. Stevens (whose Book it is) by giving way to a slothful disposition in a morning, not accommodating himself to our meals, and indeed by wasting time, has render’d himself so uncomfortable in my Family, that I did not
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